Northern Ireland

CONTENTS

Energy Assessors in Northern Ireland

Since the end of June 2008 in Northern Ireland Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) have been required when a home is marketed for sale and from the end of September 2008 they have been required for all newly constructed buildings.

In addition, from the end of December 2008, Display Energy Certificates have been required in all public sector buildings over 500m2 in floor area. Finally, since the end of December 2008 EPCs have been required for commercial buildings marketed for sale and for commercial premises and residential buildings being offered for rental, thus becoming compulsory whenever a building is constructed, sold or rented out.

Implementation was undertaken by the Department of Finance and Personnel, Building Standards Branch who are working on a dedicated EPBD website but in the meantime visit www.buildingregulationsni.gov.uk.

The Energy Performance of Buildings (Certificates and Inspections) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2008 - Key Facts

  • The Regulations were made on the 10th April 2008.
  • It is important to note that the outworking's of the Northern Ireland Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) regulations are not the same as England and Wales.
  • Differences are mainly in the domestic sector as Home Information Packs (HIPs) do not apply in Northern Ireland.
  • Every dwelling on the market after 30th June 2008 will require an EPC whether or not the dwelling was on the market before 30th June.
  • The dwelling EPC must be produced as soon a practicable and certainly before a contract to buy can be signed.
  • The NI dwelling EPCs are a different design to the England &Wales EPCs.
  • The EPC for a dwelling can be calculated using either rdSAP or the full SAP programme as appropriate.
  • EPCs are valid for 10 years and do not need to be recalculated for resale.
  • The EPC for a new dwelling is benchmarked against the same dwelling built to current building regulations standards and heated with oil. This will expose dwellings built to approvals prior to the current regulations or a poor choice of heating system.
  • NI recognises the NOS, Accreditation Schemes and Assessor training as for England & Wales. This means that registered assessors can practice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
  • Every non-domestic building on the market after 30th December will require an EPC whether or not the building was on the market before 30th December.
  • The Enforcement Agency in the first instance is the Department of Finance and Personnel although the intention is to transfer this to District Councils.
  • Trading Standards have no duties in relation to EPCs
  • The duty to have an EPC produced is on the seller, the lessee or the builder. The regulations do not place any duty on Estate Agents or other professions.
  • The EPCs and accompanying data will be registered with Landmark.
  • A habitable building sold to be demolished does not require an EPC but if rented out before demolition an EPC will be triggered.


There have been some recent changes in 2013 to the requirements for Northern Ireland. To review the changes please visit the DFPNI website - New Measures to Improve the Energy Performance of Buildings in Northern Ireland